So you decided to enter a cosplay contest. They might ask you to make a portfolio. But what is a portfolio? Why do you need one? Where do you even start? It might seem intimidating and just another thing to add on your busy plate, but they can be fun to make! A portfolio shows off how you made your cosplay, steps you used, progress pictures and anything else you want the judges to know about your work. It can even include your cosplay resume (if you don't have one, don't worry, it is not a big deal. Judges usually want this so they can judge your craftsmanship better and to make sure it was actually you who made the cosplay. Before you even start making your portfolio, you'll need to take photos. Make or alter a pattern? Take photos of your pattern pieces. Hand stitching? Take photos showing the detail work. Foam working? Take photos crafting, priming, and painting it. The more photos you take, the more documentation you have to present to the judges. Along with pictures of your work, don't forget to include reference pictures. Judges might not know your character, so always include your references. These pictures will also come in handy when you do your write up. I know that writing sounds difficult and no fun at all, but this is the part where you can shine. Write about how you made each pieces, the struggles you overcame, what you pulled from past experiences, what was your favorite part to make, and what you learned. As long as it is about the cosplay at hand, feel free to include it in there. The judges might not read everything you write, but this part is also a good reflection tool for you to see how much this one project improved you as a cosplayer and what you want to improve. Now that you have the pictures and the writing, it is time to put it all together. This is the creative part. Make sure that you follow all guidelines the con gives you about putting this together. If they don't have any, make it yours. Two of the main ways you can create this is either a picture book or scrapbook. Picture books are easier because you can buy a photo album and put in all your pictures and hand in your write up separately. With a scrapbook, you can get a binder and clear page protectors to make scrap booking pages and save some page protectors for your write up. This will allow for everything to be in one place, but it will take more time to set up the pages and add elements. If you do go the scrap book route, theme it to your character and get paper and stickers that match their color scheme, likes and personality. These can also be done virtually, just make sure that your judges will have access to the internet, or you can project your screen somehow. Being judged can be scary enough. If you follow these tips and make your portfolio uniquely you, the judges will love it. Originally posted on Nerd Fest's Blog
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Gamora: Get Geekish Blake: Yuki Cat Captures Nui: Ham Sandwich What's this?These post are different cosplay advice topics that I think people would find useful. Categories vary, so they can help beginners as well as veterans. Archives
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